resettlement

Resettlement under the Derg's land redistribution scheme is mentioned by some narrators. Sometimes it caused family breakups because the husband alone was forced to move, leaving his wife and children behind. People were also moved to areas with different culture, religion and language - for example, Christians from Wollo were moved to Bale in the south and Wollega in the southwest where people are mainly Muslim - yet little thought was given to the social aspects and impacts of resettlement. When the Derg were overthrown, many locals revolted against the settlers who had little choice but to return to Wollo. Their return is seen as having contributed to the increasing pressure on the land.

quotes about resettlement

"In the past the Derg (military regime 1974-89) reduced the size of the farming community by taking some of them and resettling them in fertile areas. Now these resettled farmers have come back and thus a scarcity of land was created."Mesay, M/28, farmer, Ethiopia 13

"They used to tell us [during the time of the Derg] that the seffera (resettlement) was where you could get plenty of food and drink, but we preferred to die here from starvation rather than go there. I don't want to be separated from my children and my people. It is our culture."Melku, M/67, priest, Ethiopia 17